Romans 8 — No Condemnation
Introduction: Those who have placed their faith and trust in the sacrifice for sin made by Christ Jesus are no longer under the condemnation of the requirements of the law for righteousness before God. They now have freedom from the sentence of death in the body, and can draw upon life in the things of the spirit to defeat the temptations of sin. There is nothing now that can separate the called, justified, and glorified believer from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. This chapter of Romans is in my own paraphrase, to some extent in an amplified style, prepared by examining several translations, and with some use of a Greek lexicon.
NOTE: Verses in the comments are from the 1769 King James Bible.
A — No Condemnation for Those in Christ Jesus
Romans 8 “1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for anyone in Christ Jesus, who does not live to satisfy the desires of their body, but lives for the things of the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: by a sacrifice for sin 4 so the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who live not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For those who follow the sinful nature keep in mind the things of the flesh; but they who want to live by the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
Comments: Paul has said that we can die to our sinful nature by accepting the death of Christ in our behalf to break the dominion of sin which has been made undeniably apparent by the holy law of God. Therefore there is no condemnation for anyone who has been made new in the spirit by accepting Christ, and now lives to satisfy the things of the Spirit, and to withdraw from the sinful desires of the physical body. This has set the believer free from the condemnation of the law of God. Because of the inherent sinful nature, no person can ever be free to live in the Spirit by trying to keep the law without Christ. Only through first accepting the sacrifice of Christ can we then set our minds on the things of the Spirit.
B — Life and Peace Through the Spirit
Romans 8 “6 To have our thoughts only on the body is death; but to keep the spiritual in mind is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal, sensual, worldly mind is hatred, animosity, and hostility against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. 8 So then anyone living only in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if it is true that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any person does not have the Spirit of Christ, that person does not belong to Christ.”
Comments: If we concentrate our life only on things related to the satisfaction of the desires of our physical existence in this temporal body, we are still condemned to absolute death. However, by keeping the spiritual aspect of our life in our thoughts and actions we will have true life and inner peace. Philippians 4:7 “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” It is a very sobering thought that anyone who lives only for the carnal, sensual, worldly things has hatred, animosity, and hostility against God. But, praise God, if we have his Spirit within us we can live in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
C — Christ Makes Our Dead Body Alive Through Righteousness
Romans 8 “10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also give new life to your mortal, perishable body by his Spirit that dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh to live after it. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Comments: The believer has good reason to resist the sinful desires of the flesh because the Spirit of God within makes our body “dead” already. We still exist in the flesh, but when our body passes into physical death, we will have a new body in righteousness by the Spirit because we now participate in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. That new life given by his Spirit to our mortal, perishable body should be an irresistible motivation for us to put to death the desires of the body that are contrary to true life in the Spirit. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
D — You Have Received the Spirit of Adoption as Children
Romans 8 “15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if it is so that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Comments: Paul made a contrast between the “spirit of fear” that held us in bondage while we were under the law; and the “Spirit of adoption” that now makes us free to call God our Father. God’s Spirit within us bears witness in truth with our own spirit that we are the children of God. Hebrews 2:14–15 says Christ took upon himself flesh to free us from the bondage of death. Galatians 4:4–7 describes how we have been redeemed from under the law, receiving the adoption of sons, and are no longer servants but heirs of God through Christ. As joint-heirs with Christ we must be willing to suffer as Christ suffered, that we may be also glorified together. Hebrews 12:1–3 encourages us to run with patience, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who endured the cross. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us!
E — Waiting for the Appearing of the Sons of God
Romans 8 “19 For the earnest, serious, sincere expectation of every living being waits for the clear and obvious appearing of the sons of God. 20 For the created being was made subject to the vanity of useless existence, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the physical creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans, agonizes, and travails in pain together until now. 23 And besides, we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
Comments: Waiting for the clear and obvious appearing of the sons of God is the only serious and sincere expectation of every living being, because all have been subjected to the useless and vain existence that can only be replaced by the sure hope that awaits every believer. The physical body of every believer shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of being a child of God. So we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, along with the entire creation, groan and agonize with longing as we await that redemption of our body. Ephesians 2:3–5 reminds us that even as we face difficulties, we were once “by nature the children of wrath” but “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love… even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.”
F — Confidently Wait for the Hope That Is Not Yet Realized
Romans 8 “24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man already sees, why would he continue to hope for it? 25 But if we hope for that which we do not see, then we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our infirmities and difficult challenges: for we don’t know what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be expressed out loud. 27 And he that searches the heart knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Comments: We must realize that since our hope is something completely assured, we need to confidently hold onto that hope until it becomes fulfilled reality, waiting patiently for the strength about which Isaiah also wrote. Isaiah 40:28–31 “The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary… He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength… But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Even when we are unsure of how we should pray about various infirmities and difficulties, God’s Spirit makes intercession for us with pleas that we cannot express, according to the will of God.
G — God Predestined, Called, Justified, and Glorified Believers
Romans 8 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, those he also called: and whom he called, those he also justified: and whom he justified, those he also glorified.”
Comments: Believers have been called by the LORD to fulfill his purpose as those who love him, as he works all things together for his omniscient good. Ephesians 1:3–6 says God “hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace.” Everyone God knew before the foundation of the world, he also established in advance to be conformed to the image of his Son. Therefore, everyone whom God has predestinated, he calls to himself — and those he calls, he justifies, and he glorifies. We should be continually praising God for his wonderful grace to us!
H — Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of Christ
Romans 8 “31 What should we say about these things? If God is for us, who could possibly be against us? 32 He who did not hold back his own Son, but sent him to die for us all, won’t he also with him freely give us all things?… 35 Who then could separate us from the love of Christ? Could any of these things separate us: tribulation, distress, persecution, extreme hunger, lack of clothing, perilous situations, or even our murder?… 37 No, in all these things we are more than overcomers through our God who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that not death, life, angels, rulers of governments, things present, things in the future, 39 height, depth, or any created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Comments: Paul’s conclusion is that because God is for us, there is no one who can ultimately succeed in standing against us. God delivered his own Son for all who believe, and with Christ, God will also freely give us all things of lasting value. Since he has justified his own, he will also glorify them, and nothing can prevent their final rest with him. Christ died and rose again, and now sits at the right hand of the Father to make intercession for every believer. Psalm 44:22–26 shows the Psalmist crying out to God for help, closing with “Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake” — for the sake of God’s mercy, not because the writer had earned redemption. So Paul could close this chapter with his great declaration that nothing shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflections in Prayer
LORD, I cannot fully comprehend the mercy given to me when Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh and gave himself as the all-sufficient sacrifice to condemn sin in the flesh for me. I am now free of condemnation by being in Christ Jesus and I do not want to live for the things of the body that are contrary to the things of the Spirit. Help me Lord to think and act from the realization that I have been made free from the law of sin and death because the Spirit of God indwells me as a child of God, and that is the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead. As a joint heir with Christ, I thank you Lord, for the strength that you provide to allow me to be a participant in the suffering of Christ, knowing that I also will share in the glory reserved for me by your grace. Thank you Lord, that I can be confident that whenever I don’t know how to pray, the Spirit of God will make wonderful intercession for me through your thorough knowledge of what is in my heart. And you make all things to work together for good for me along with all others who love God, and are called by you according to your purpose. This is a wonderful truth that is beyond my full comprehension, that I should be a joint heir with my Creator and Savior! LORD, please keep me steadfast in knowing that since you have made me one of your own children, there is nothing or no one who can ever overcome your hold on me. As I live by the Spirit of God that now indwells me, I believe that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Amen, and amen.
Published 24 May, Revised 10 June, 2016